Open end structure having a positively engaged closure



196.7 M. SCHUPACK 3,353,359

OPEN END STRUCTURE HAVING A POSITIVELY ENGAGED CLOSURE Filed March 25,1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR MORRIS 5CHUPACK Nov. 21, 1967 I M.SCHUPACK 3,353,859

OPEN END STRUCTURE HAVING A POSITIVELY ENGAGED CLOSURE- Filed March 23,1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR MORRIS SCHUPHCK United States Patent3,353,859 OPEN END STRUCTURE HAVING A POSITIVELY ENGAGED CLOSURE MorrisSchupack, Stamford, Conn., assignor to The Preload Company, Westbury,N.Y. Filed Mar. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 442,089 6 Claims. (Cl. 292256)ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Large open-end concrete structures areprovided with a removable top closure for the open-end, the portion ofthe structure surrounding the removable top closure is prestressed, asealing ring is positioned within the structure between the closure anda supporting internal ledge for the closure, thrust members arecontained within the structure and adapted to be swung into positionagainst the closure so that it is positively locked in position withinthe structure.

This invention relates to large structures and particularly to closuresfor such structures.

In some manufacturing processes large structures are advantageously usedto hold large articles which are to be subjected to high pressures orhigh temperatures for a variety of purposes such as curing. Also, somehazardous and dangerous operations are preferably carried out instructures which can resist the great pressures which may suddenly buildup, for example, due to a malfunction. When such great internalpressures are developed within the structure, it is obvious that atremendous force is applied to the closure of the structure.Accordingly, positive means must be available for securing the closuresin place when the very high pressures are developed.

With prior art closures a standard approach has been to use costly boltsand/ or studs used in combination with special designed shear pins andsystems.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide aconstruction with a positively secured in place closure so that theclosure will remain in a fixed position when high pressures ortemperatures are developed within the structure. It is a further objectof the present invention to provide means which permits the closure tobe readily removed from the structure so that rapid access may be had tothe interior of the structure if necessary.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide thrustmeans which causes the closure to be securely held in position, and yetallows the thrust means also to act as a shock transmission means totransfer any suddenly developed force from the closure to a suitablesupporting anchorage, the anchorage being capable of absorbing thesuddenly developed force.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a structurewhich may be vertically aligned or, if desired, it may be constructedwith a horizontal longitudinal alignment of the structure.

In the accompanying drawings and in the specification, an embodiment ofthe present invention is shown. It is to be understood that thisembodiment is for the purpose of illustration, and it is not to beconstrued as limiting the present invention, but, rather, it is for thepurpose of disclosing the invention to those skilled in the art so thatit may be practiced in various ways and means, each within the spiritand scope of the invention as claimed hereafter.

FIGURE 1 is a side view of a large vertically positioned structure inaccordance with the present invention, wherein the closure is removedfrom the structure;

FIGURE 2 is a view of the structure of FIGURE 1 taken along lines 22 ofFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged partially fragmentary sectional view of thestructure of FIGURE 1 with the closure in place;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged partially fragmentary sectional view of thewall, closure and thrust means of the structure of the presentinvention;

FIGURE 5 is a partially fragmentary plan view of the thrust means ofFIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a partially fragmentary perspective view of the thrust meansof FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 7 is a force diagram showing how the developed thrust forces arebroken into vertical and horizontal components.

Referring to the drawings and to FIGURES 1 and 2 in particular, a largecylindrical concrete structure 10, in accordance with the presentinvention, is shown. The structure 10 comprises an end portionillustrated as a bottom floor or wall 12, sidewalls 14, a top closure16, and a ledge 18 which supports the closure 16 spaced above the bottomfloor 12.

To show the scope and size of the illustrated structure 10 and itscomponents, an overhead crane 20 which is mounted on a supporting frame22 is depicted for moving the top closure 16 from an operative positionin the sidewalls 14 to an open position wherein the closure is removedfrom the structure 10.

In the illustrated embodiment in the drawings, the structure 10 is avertically positioned curing vessel for materials which must besubjected to high pressures. It might also be a chamber in which apotentially highly explosive operation takes place or it might also behorizontally positioned along its longitudinal extent.

In a curing vessel of the type shown in the illustrated embodiment, theinternal pressure would be in the order of about 1000 psi. and theobject to be cured might weigh in the vicinity of about 200 tons. Theinternal diameter of the structure is about twenty-five feet and theclosure 16 has a depth of about seven feet.

The closure 16 which of substantial size must be limited to the tonnagecapacity of the overhead crane which is determined in each case. Toachieve the necessary bulk required and also to still stay within thecrane capacity, light weight concrete may be used for the top closure.

As shown in detail in FIGURE 3 in particular, the bottom end or floor 12of the structure 10 is made of concrete as are the sidewalls 14 whichmay be lined with steel or other suitable materials. If desired, thesidewalls 14 may be horizontally prestressed by wrapping about the wallsa series of convolutions of high tensile strength tendons so that thewall is placed in a state of compression.

Whether or not the lower portion of the wall 14 is prestressed, theupper portion 24 of the wall 14 is advantageously prestressedcircumferentially and longitudinally as will be discussed in more detailhereinafter.

On the interior of the sidewall 14 the ledge 18 is provided. In theillustrated embodiment the ledge 18 takes the form of a shoulder. Placedon the ledge 18 is a sealing ring 26. The sealing ring 26 may be of adesirable construction in that it may be a deformable elastomeric pad oreven an inflatable elastomeric material. The closure 16, in itssupported position, rests on the sealing ring 26. The elastomericqualities of the sealing ring 26 advantageously solve the problem ofclose tolerances since the ring will deform to make up for anyirregularities which may occur between the mating surfaces of theclosure 16 and the support or ledge 18.

If desired, a steel liner 28 may be provided on the underside of theclosure 16. This steel liner 28 serves a dual purpose in that itprovides a smoother mating surface for contacting the sealing ring 26and also provides a protective member for the closure 16. To insureproper 3 seating of the ring 26, a flat steel plate 29 may be providedon the ledge 18.

To lock theclosure 16 in place, thrust means 30 are used. The thrustmeans 30 are best illustrated in FIG- URES 4, 5 and 6 in particular. Thethrust means 30 are generally comprised of a series of seats 32 atfixedto the upper peripheral portion of the closure 16, thrust members 34which engage the seats 32, anchorages 36 to which the thrust members 34are swingably aflixed and push rods 38 which move the thrust members 34into engagement with the seats 32.

The upper peripheral portion of the closure 16 has a beveled area 40about which are mounted the seats 32. The seats 32 are anchored to theclosure 16 by suitable bolts 42 and may be seated on elastomericmaterial 43 to help to assure equalization of thrust. Each seal 32 is abuilt up member with a top flange 44 and a stop 46 running along theflange 44. Advantageously, the lower surface 47 of the thrust members 34is curved to provide a smooth and accurate fit with theupper surface ofthe flange 44.

The thrust members 34 are relatively heavy plate members pivoted to theanchorage 36 by means of any convenient device such as the hinge members48 shown in FIGURES 4 and 6 in particular. The anchorages 36 are fittedwith a number of studs 50 which project into the concrete of thesidewalls 16 so that the anchorages are fixed solidly in position. Thepush rods 38 which control the position of the members 34 are moved byany suitable means through openings 52 in the upper wall portion 24. Thethrust members 34 are movable from the open position of FIGURE 4 (asshown by the phantom lines) to the in-place position shown in thatfigure. The thrust members 34, when in a locked-in place position, forman angle of approximately 20 with the vertical surface of the side'-wall 14.

The upper wall portion 24 is advantageously circumferentiallyprestressed by a series of tendons 54 which surround the structure andvertically prestressed by a series of tendons 55 which are vertically,i.e., longitudinally, in the wall 14 from one end to the other.

When pressure is developed within the chamber C of the structure 10, thedeveloped force is exerted against the closure 16. The thrust members 34are arranged about the periphery of the closure 16 and they transfer thedeveloped forces to the upper wall portion 24 by means of the anchorages36. Advantageously, the upper wall portion 24 is in a state ofcompression due to the developed forces of the prestressing tendons 54and 55.

In FIGURE 7 a force diagram is shown which illustrates how the developedforce F taken by thethrust means 30 may be divided into a horizontalcomponent H and prestressing 54 and 55 are designed to withstand theseforce components.

It should be noted that the vertical component V of the force of thethrust plate 30 is taken substantially by the compressive forcedeveloped in the wall 14 by the vertical reinforcement 55 which in theillustrated embodiment is vertical prestressing; and the horizontalcomponent H is taken substantially by the compressive force developed inthe wall 14 by the circumferential prestressing 54.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that a new and highlyeffective closure construction is disclosed.

In this specification the sidewalls 14 are referred to in the plural.However, it is to be understood that the sidewall may be a unitarycontinuous circular cylindrical component, or it may be of any otherdesired peripheral configuration, such as polygonical or oval shaped.

I claim: 1. A large open-end concrete structure having an end 5 portion,sidewalls and a removable top closure for the open-end, a plurality ofprestressing tendons positioned about and within the upper portion ofsaid sidewalls to place said portion of the sidewalls in a state ofcompression, support means about the interior of said sidewalls andspaced from the end portion, a deformable sealing ring positioned onsaid support, said closure disposed on said ring, thrust means arrangedabove the support and including an anchorage afiixed to the upperportion of the sidewall which is in compression, thrust membersswingably mounted at one end to the anchorage, means for moving theother end of the thrust members from a position adjacent the sidewall toa position in positive contact with the top closure whereby the closureis positively locked in position within the sidewalls.

2. In a large open-end structure of the type having an end portion,sidewalls and a removable top closure, an improved closure arrangementincluding a plurality of convolutions of prestressing tendons tensionedabout the upper portion of the sidewalls and cooperating with verticalprestressing tendons in the; sidewall to place said portion of thesidewall in a state of compression, closure support means about theinterior of said sidewalls, thrust means arranged about the closureportion of the sidewall, thrust members swingably mounted at one end tothe anchorage, means for moving the unmounted ends of the thrust membersfrom a position adjacent the side-wall to a position in positiveengagement with a seat on the top closure whereby said closure ispositively locked in place.

3. In a large open-end concrete structure the improvement as defined inclaim 2 and further including a deformable sealing ring positionedbetween the closure and the closure support means.

4. In a large open-end concrete structure the improvement as defined inclaim 2 wherein the means for moving the unmounted ends of the thrustmembers includes push rods movable through openings in the sidewalls,said openings located above the support means.

5. In a large open-end concrete structure the improvement as defined inclaim 2 wherein the seat on the closure has an inclined upper surfacewith respect to the inner surface of the sidewall so that the thrustmember when locked in position is orientated at an included angle ofabout 20 with the sidewall. 5 6. In a large open-end concrete structurethe improvement as defined in claim 2 wherein the anchorage is substantially imbedded in the sidewall whereby any pressure exerted on thethrust members by forces acting on the closure are transferred to theprestressed upper portion of the sidewalls.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS MARVIN A. CHAMPION, PrimaryExaminer.

RICHARD E. MOORE, Examiner.

2. IN A LARGE OPEN-END STRUCTURE OF THE TYPE HAVING AN END PORTION,SIDEWALLS AND A REMOVABLE TOP CLOSURE, AN IMPROVED CLOSURE ARRANGEMENTINCLUDING A PLURALITY OF CONVOLUTIONS OF PRESTRESSING TENDONS TENSIONEDABOUT THE UPPER PORTION OF THE SIDEWALLS AND COOPERATING WITH VERTICALPRESTRESSING TENDONS IN THE SIDEWALL TO PLACE SAID PORTION OF THESIDEWALL IN A STATE OF COMPRESSION, CLOSURE SUPPORT MEANS ABOUT THEINTERIOR OF SAID SIDEWALLS, THRUST MEANS ARRANGED ABOUT THE CLOSUREPORTION OF THE SIDEWALL, THRUST MEMBERS SWINGABLY MOUNTED AT ONE END TOTHE ANCHORAGE, MEANS FOR MOVING THE UNMOUNTED ENDS OF THE THRUST MEMBERSFROM A POSITION ADJACENT THE SIDEWALL TO A POSITION IN POSITIVEENGAGEMENT WITH A SEAT ON THE TOP CLOSURE WHEREBY SAID CLOSURE ISPOSITIVELY LOCKED IN PLACE.